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America in Color:

How the Texas Oil Boom Led to This 1937 American Tragedy

How the Texas Oil Boom Led to This 1937 American Tragedy

Short | 01:55

The discovery of oil in Texas, in 1901, turned the fortunes of the Lone Star State, as money and prospectors began to pour in. But with wealth came negligence, resulting in the New London School explosion of 1937.

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At the dawn of the 20th century, America west of the Mississippi was wild and untamed, featuring formidable landscapes and treacherous rivers. But in the following decades, industry and opportunity transformed the region into an economic and political powerhouse that drove change across the country and the world. Presented for the first time in color, revisit lands made famous by Buffalo Bill, championed by Teddy Roosevelt, and developed by opportunists seeking adventure and fortune.